Has the Crown Prince Been Deposed Today? - Chapter 15

Chapter 15. Upright Conduct

Regarding the final verdict, it turned out that Wei Zhao had worried for nothing.

After Emperor Changping expressed his willingness to use his private funds to purchase two luxurious mansions in the most scenic area of the capital’s suburbs as compensation, the little Crown Prince, without even batting an eyelid, accepted the Emperor’s “kind intentions” and “punishment.”

It was free real estate.

Why refuse free stuff?

He was used to being labeled a troublemaker anyway; one more stain wouldn’t make a difference. But when the virtuous and upright First Prince had a stain on his record, how disappointed would those old pedants be? It was something to look forward to.

When a man stands under eaves, he has to lower his head. After three years, he had long understood the principle of quitting while you’re ahead. Besides, a certain someone’s beloved First Prince would soon suffer from insomnia and nightmares. When that certain someone found out, he would surely be heartbroken for quite some time.

The more uncomfortable that certain someone was, the happier he would be.

There was only one condition.

That clumsy servant who spilled Wenshu orchid into the wine, intending to sow discord between him and his dear Eldest Brother, could come from anywhere and go anywhere, but they definitely weren’t from the Crown Prince’s residence.

Hmph!

He would never raise such a sinister, hateful, and brainless servant.

Whoever wanted to raise them could have them!

Emperor Changping had no choice. He had to spend money, manpower, and effort to have Wang Fulai find a truly clumsy servant who had committed a crime from the palace’s Department of Punishments to take the blame, finally settling the matter.

The Prime Minister, Lord Wang, and the Minister of War, General Wu, were reporting on their work. Seeing that the Emperor’s brow was furrowed and he seemed to be preoccupied, they tactfully said, “Is Your Majesty tired? How about we report the details tomorrow?”

Emperor Changping sighed silently. He was tired, mentally exhausted.

“I remember that each of you has three sons, all of whom are knowledgeable, courteous, and talented. Your eldest son serves in the Hanlin Academy, works diligently, and is praised by everyone. Your second son took the imperial examination for the first time last year and achieved remarkable success, earning the title of Tanhua. Although your third son was raised in the countryside by his maternal grandparents, he is also of good character and filial to you and your wife. How did you manage to raise your three sons so successfully?”

Emperor Changping first turned to Lord Wang, humbly seeking advice on parenting.

There was no one in the world who didn’t like to hear others praise their children. It was even more gratifying than being praised themselves. Prime Minister Wang stroked his beard with a hint of pride and smiled, “Your Majesty truly flatters me. I didn’t really put much effort into their upbringing. The main thing was to set rules and cultivate their sense of self-discipline and self-reliance…”

Seeing that the Prime Minister was about to launch into a long-winded speech that might take an hour, a feeling of helplessness and fear, as if being dominated by the morning court, washed over Emperor Changping. He quickly interrupted and turned to General Wu. “I heard that your son is also skilled in both literary and martial arts, quite like you. How do you usually educate him?”

Compared to the verbose and preachy Prime Minister Wang, General Wu was much more straightforward and practical.

“Beat them.”

“For minor offenses, tie them up and beat them. For major offenses, hang them up and beat them. If that doesn’t work, my wife and I will beat them together. I guarantee the little brats will cry their eyes out and never dare to do it again.”

“…..”

Emperor Changping couldn’t imagine the scene of the Crown Prince being hung up and beaten. That child was very delicate. Even a light spanking would leave his eyes misty with tears, and he would be bedridden for days. If he were really hung up and beaten, what if he got seriously hurt?

As for Yurun, he would probably just keel over.

Fortunately, the heavens were reliable and didn’t let his sickly First Prince be born into the Wu family.

Just like this vicious poisoning incident, in his rage, he originally intended to punish them with twenty strokes of the rod and one day of kneeling. But later, considering that Yunrun was weak and probably wouldn’t be able to endure a few strokes, he canceled the flogging and changed it to three days of kneeling.

Emperor Changping thought with some regret that although parenting experiences were not universally applicable, it was still beneficial to chat with his ministers about family and children. For example, it helped him regain his pride and confidence as a father.

“Later, go and inquire about where General Wu’s son is currently serving. If he’s in the Ministry of War, transfer him to the palace. Put him in the Imperial Guard to keep the Crown Prince company.”

After Prime Minister Wang and General Wu left, Emperor Changping specifically instructed Wang Fulai.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Emperor Changping really couldn’t bear to see General Wu’s son suffer under General Wu’s shadow even during work hours, unable to catch a break. It would affect this young man’s loyalty to the court.

***

Upon hearing that he also had to go to Chengqing Hall to kneel in penance, the Second Prince Mu Xiao’s first reaction was… it was so infuriating, so unfair!

What did their mismanagement of their subordinates have to do with him? Did they know how much grievance and injustice he had suffered because of their mistakes? When it was time to enjoy the benefits, they didn’t think of him, but when it was time for collective punishment, they suddenly remembered him?

He was really going to lose it!

Even more wronged than the Second Prince was the Sixth Prince, Mu Qi. Because he had been sick with a cold recently, he had been resting in his own residence and hadn’t attended his Eldest Brother’s birthday banquet. Therefore, he had no idea that his Eldest Brother and the Crown Prince had been poisoned.

He was still a little confused when he received Wang Fulai’s oral edict. He hadn’t done anything. Why did his Imperial Father suddenly want to punish him by making him kneel before Chengqing Hall, and for three days at that? He was still sick; what about his medicine?

When he arrived at Chengqing Hall and saw the Crown Prince and his five elder brothers, Mu Qi was even more surprised. He could even be said to be flattered.

You see, because his birth mother’s background was too humble, he had always been the forgotten one, overlooked by his Imperial Father and brothers. Usually, his brothers never took him along when there were activities, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs often forgot his share when distributing allowances.

But today, they had all remembered him at the same time!

So, what was his Imperial Father doing? Could it be that he was deliberately using this method to help him integrate into the big family of the imperial family?

Feeling a mix of slight excitement and nervousness, Mu Qi didn’t pay much attention to the order of his brothers’ positions. He just found an empty spot next to his Second Brother and knelt down.

The ground in front of Chengqing Hall, except for the two side paths, was all paved with cobblestones.

Mu Xiao was kneeling very irritably and had nowhere to vent his anger. When he saw someone kneeling next to him without any regard for etiquette, and even smiling at him, looking all smug as if saying, “I’m kneeling closer to the front than you,” he immediately roared, “Get lost!”

What kind of idiot was this?

Was his brain damaged?

Was kneeling on cobblestones something to be happy about?

Mu Qi quickly and carefully moved to the back, his little heart instantly filled with immense joy and excitement.

His most admired Second Brother, who usually didn’t even notice him when they passed each other, who never heard him when he spoke and didn’t deign to speak to him, had just spoken to him!

Imperial Father was so amazing.

He really liked this kind of activity that could promote brotherly affection. They should do it more often.

“Fourth Brother~ Fifth Brother~”

Based on the principle of “Imperial Father opens the door, but cultivation depends on the individual,” Mu Qi mustered up his courage and took the initiative to greet his two brothers in the back row.

However…

His two brothers obviously didn’t want to acknowledge him.

***

In the front row, Gao Jili was fanning the little Crown Prince to shield him from the sun while taking out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat. Seeing that the little Crown Prince’s lips were a little chapped, he hurriedly took out a water bag and fed him a couple of sips of honey water. He was busier than the Emperor himself.

“His Majesty is discussing matters with several ministers in the hall. It won’t be over anytime soon. How about this old servant bring out the cushion and put it under Your Highness, so you can suffer a little less.”

Gao Jili looked at his recently recovered and frowning little Highness with heartache.

“Mhm.”

Mu Yun nodded weakly. “Did you bring the knee pads?”

“Yes, yes, the fox fur ones.”

“Mhm.”

“Then this old servant will bring them all over?”

“Mhm.”

Gao Jili happily trotted off.

The steward of the Second Prince’s residence was dozing off when he suddenly felt a sinister gaze. He immediately woke up and searched around, only to find that it was his master looking at him. He quickly bowed his head and asked, “D-Does Your Highness have any instructions?”

Mu Xiao was frantically trying to communicate with his eyes.

Where’s my cushion?

Where are my knee pads?

Don’t tell me you didn’t prepare them!

Steward Zhang: Huh?

Mu Xiao: !!

You’re dead!

On the other side, the steward of the First Prince’s residence was painstakingly persuading, “This old servant knows that Your Highness is strict with yourself, but Your Highness has just recovered from a serious illness. What if you catch a cold? Please let this old servant put the cotton cushion under you!”

“Don’t say any more.”

Mu Jue knelt with his back straight and proper posture, like a bamboo standing in an uneven bamboo forest, only his face was particularly pale.

“Imperial Father punished me with kneeling to make me remember the lesson. How can I be lazy and let others see? If you dare to speak disrespectfully again, go back to the residence.”

The steward looked wearily at the steward of the Second Prince’s residence, who was already running to Qingjia Palace to borrow cotton cushions and knee pads, and at the Fourth and Fifth Princes in the back row, who were already secretly eating snacks and cracking melon seeds. He suddenly felt that sometimes, having too much integrity wasn’t necessarily a good thing.